The 25-year-old, who has featured nine times for Wales and was part of the squad that was in America and Canada earlier this summer, is aiming to pin down a regular starting berth with the Welsh outfit next season.

And Hibbard is confident that featuring on a regular basis for his club side will do his chances of also appearing for his country no harm at all.

He told the official Welsh Rugby Union website: “I’ve got to target being first choice Ospreys hooker, and aim to start in the Heineken Cup games.

“If I manage that then I can only hope that Welsh selection will take care of itself.

“I’m not worried about the competition for places, that’s just part of rugby. What is import is continuous improvement in my own game.

"I’m aware that there are areas for development, that’ll always be the case, but I’m working hard with the coaches to put these things right.”